Main image processing apparatus, sub image processing apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a main image processing apparatus, a sub image processing apparatus and a control method thereof. The control method of the sub image processing apparatus includes receiving a user&#39;s touch input through the sub image processing apparatus; determining which contents correspond to a touched area where the touch input occurs; sensing change in location of the touch input; and transmitting a control command for the contents to the main image processing apparatus in response to the sensed change in the location of the touch input. With this, it is more convenient for a user to control the main image processing apparatus through the sub image processing apparatus supporting the touch input.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/636,738 filed on Mar. 3, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/616,541 filed on Nov. 11, 2009, now abandoned,which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2008-0125783, filed on Dec. 11, 2008 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Field of Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate toa main image processing apparatus, a sub image processing apparatus anda control method thereof, and more particularly, to a main imageprocessing apparatus, a sub image processing apparatus and a controlmethod thereof, in which the sub image processing apparatus is used intransmitting a control command to the main image processing apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

An image processing apparatus receives a video signal from abroadcasting station or a video signal from an external device such as adigital versatile disc (DVD) player or the like, and processes it to bedisplayed as an image. The image processing apparatus processes not onlythe broadcasting signal from the broadcasting station but also variouscontents such as a game application, a still image (photograph), and amoving picture of digital data.

Recently, a demand for a dual image processing system has been on therise, in which the dual image processing system includes two or moreimage processing apparatuses and displays contents in various methodsaccording to a user's request.

However, a general dual image processing system receives various controlcommands from a user through a user input unit provided in the imageprocessing apparatus or an external input device provided separately.

Thus, there is a growing need for a dual image processing system inwhich one image processing apparatus can be used to transmit a controlcommand to another image processing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can beachieved by providing a control method of a sub image processingapparatus connectable with a main image processing apparatus, thecontrol method including: receiving a user's touch input through the subimage processing apparatus; determining which contents correspond to atouched area where the touch input occurs; sensing change in location ofthe touch input; and transmitting a control command for the contents tothe main image processing apparatus in response to the sensed change inthe location of the touch input.

The control method of the sub image processing apparatus may furtherinclude displaying the contents changed corresponding to the sensedchange in the location of the touch input.

The control method of the sub image processing apparatus may furtherinclude transmitting information about the contents to the main imageprocessing apparatus if a flicking input in which the touch input movesby a predetermined distance or more in a predetermined direction issensed in the sensing the change in the location of the touch input.

The transmitting the control command to the main image processingapparatus includes transmitting the control command that makes thecontents displayed in the main image processing apparatus be rotated ata predetermined angle and in a predetermined direction if a circle inputin which the touch input rotates at the angle and in the direction issensed in the sensing the change in the location of the touch input.

The transmitting the control command to the main image processingapparatus may include transmitting a channel-switching command for thecontents.

The control method of the sub image processing apparatus may furtherinclude displaying a control panel for the contents. Here, the controlmethod of the sub image processing apparatus may further include closingthe displayed control panel if receiving information about a power-offstate of the main image processing apparatus.

The control method of the sub image processing apparatus may furtherinclude: receiving information about a power-off state of the main imageprocessing apparatus; and transmitting a power-on command to the mainimage processing apparatus.

The control method of the sub image processing apparatus may furtherinclude animating at least one of the menu item selected correspondingto the touch input and the contents corresponding to the menu item.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a control methodof a main image processing apparatus connectable with a sub imageprocessing apparatus, the control method including: receiving a controlcommand for contents from the sub image processing apparatus; anddisplaying the contents changed on the basis of the received controlcommand.

The displaying the contents changed depending on the control command mayinclude switching a channel to correspond to the contents.

The control method of the main image processing apparatus according toclaim 10, further including turning on the main image processingapparatus if the image processing apparatus is being turned off.

The control command may include information about rotation at apredetermined angle and in a predetermined direction with regard to thecontents, and the displaying the contents changed depending on thecontrol command includes displaying the contents rotated at the angleand in the direction.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a sub imageprocessing apparatus connectable with a main image processing apparatus,the sub image processing apparatus including: a communication unit whichcommunicates with the main image processing apparatus; an imageprocessing unit which processes contents; a display unit which displaysthe processed contents; a user input unit which receives a user's touchinput; and a controller which determines which contents correspond to atouched area where the touch input occurs, sensing change in location ofthe touch input, and controlling the communication unit to transmit acontrol command for the contents to the main image processing apparatusin response to the sensed change in the location of the touch input.

The display unit may display the contents changed corresponding to thesensed change in the location of the touch input.

The controller may control the communication unit to transmitinformation about the contents to the main image processing apparatus ifa flicking input in which the touch input moves by a predetermineddistance or more in a predetermined direction is sensed.

The controller may control the communication unit to transmit thecontrol command that makes the contents displayed in the main imageprocessing apparatus be rotated at a predetermined angle and in apredetermined direction if a circle input in which the touch inputrotates at the angle and in the direction is sensed. Further, thecontroller may control the display unit to close a control panel for thecontents if receiving information about a power-off state of the mainimage processing apparatus.

The controller may control the communication unit to transmit a power-oncommand to the main image processing apparatus if receiving informationabout a power-off state of the main image processing apparatus.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a main imageprocessing apparatus connectable with a sub image processing apparatus,the main image processing apparatus including: a communication unitwhich communicates with the sub image processing apparatus; an imageprocessing unit which processes contents; a display unit which displaysthe processed contents; and a controller which receives a controlcommand for the contents from the sub image processing apparatus, andcontrols the image processing unit to display the contents changed onthe basis of the received control command.

The controller may turn on the main image processing apparatus when themain image processing apparatus is being turned off, and control theimage processing unit to display the contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of dual image processing systemsaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate control of a main image processing apparatus asa user touches a sub image processing apparatus for input;

FIGS. 4A to 6B shows control screens displayed on the sub imageprocessing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate control of the main image processingapparatus on the basis of touch input according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a control method of a sub image processingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a control method of a main image processingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Below, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a dual image processing system 10according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The dualimage processing system 10 includes a sub image processing apparatus100, and a main image processing apparatus 200 that receives a controlcommand from the sub image processing apparatus 100.

In this exemplary embodiment, the sub image processing apparatus 100 isa portable media player capable of processing an image about variouscontents such as a still image (photograph), a moving picture, music,etc., and the main image processing apparatus 200 may be achieved by adigital television (TV), a set-top box, etc. The sub image processingapparatus 100 transmits a control command to the main image processingapparatus 200 in order to control operation of the main image processingapparatus 200.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the sub image processing apparatus 100 includes afirst image receiving unit 110, a first image processing unit 120, afirst display unit 130 a, a first user input unit 140 a, a first storageunit 150, a first communication unit 160, and a first controller 170.

The first image receiving unit 110 receives a video signal from abroadcasting station or from an external device such as a DVD player orthe like. The first image receiving unit 110 includes an antenna, atuner, etc. to receive a broadcasting signal. Meanwhile, the sub imageprocessing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment may receive avideo signal from the outside via a network.

The first image processing unit 120 processes the video signal receivedby the first image receiving unit 110 into a signal having a formatdisplayable in the first display unit 130 a.

The first display unit 130 a displays contents processed by the firstimage processing unit 120. The first display unit 130 a may change anddisplay the contents corresponding to change in location of touch inputon the first user input unit 140.

The first display unit 130 a includes a display panel (not shown) wherethe contents are displayed, and a panel driver (not shown) to drive thevideo signal output from the first image processing unit 120 to bedisplayed on the display panel. In this exemplary embodiment, thedisplay panel (not shown) may include a liquid crystal display (LCD)panel or a plasma display panel (PDP) by way of example.

The first user input unit 140 a may be a control panel, which includesat least one button and is provided in the sub image processingapparatus 100, as a user interface (UI) to receive a user's instruction.The control panel may include specific keys such as a menu key, an arrowkey, etc. The first controller 170 determines that a user givesinstructions when a button of the control panel is pressed.

In another exemplary embodiment, as a first user input unit 140 b, thefirst user input unit 140 a may further include a touch panel(hereinafter, it will be also referred to as a “touch pad” or “touchscreen”) which is in the first display unit 130 b and receives a user'stouch input (FIG. 1B). The touch panel may include a graphic userinterface (GUI) presented by executing a predetermined application anddisplayed on the first display unit 130 b as a touch area enabling auser's touch input.

Here, the touch input is an input based on a touch of a user, which notonly includes a touch, a tap or the like, but also includes at least oneof tap and hold, drag and drop, flicking and circle as a directionalgesture input. Below, the touch input will be explained in more detailwith exemplary embodiments to be described.

Further, the first user input unit 140 a, 140 b displays a plurality ofmenu items 21 (refer to FIG. 5A), and a menu navigation displayed in anarea of the first display unit 130 a, 130 b. The first display unit 130a, 130 b includes a view zone 22 (refer to FIG. 5A) to display thumbnailcontents corresponding to a menu item 21 selected in the menunavigation, in which the view zone 22 may receive the touch input of auser.

Meanwhile, the first user input unit 140 a, 140 b receives a user'sinstruction for controlling the main image processing apparatus 200.Specifically, the first user input unit 140 a, 140 b includes a TVcontrol panel 24 (refer to FIG. 5B) presented to control the contentsdisplayed on the main image processing apparatus 200 and displayed onthe first display unit 140 a, 140 b. If the touch input is receivedthrough the TV control panel 24, the first controller 170 controls thefirst communication unit 160 to transmit a control command correspondingto the touch input to the main image processing apparatus 200.

The first storage unit 150 stores the contents received from theoutside. Here, an image stored in the first storage unit 150 may includenot only a broadcasting signal transmitted from the broadcasting stationand received by the first image receiving unit 110, but also contentssuch as a game application, a still image (photograph), and a movingpicture of digital data received from various external sources such as aDVD player, an MP3 player, a digital camera, etc.

The first storage unit 150 may include an internal storage medium suchas a flash memory, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) anda hard disk drive (HDD), or a portable storage medium such as auniversal serial bus (USB) memory and a memory card (a memory stick, acompact flash card, and a multi-media card (MMC)).

The first communication unit 160 performs wire/wireless communicationwith the outside according to a predetermined communication protocol.Specifically, the first communication unit 160 transmits a controlcommand corresponding to the touch input of a user to the main imageprocessing apparatus 200, and transmits the contents stored in the firststorage unit 150 to the main image processing apparatus 200. Further,the first communication unit 160 may receive the contents from the mainimage processing apparatus 200.

Here, the control command is a signal for giving various commands of auser such as power on/off of the main image processing apparatus 200,switch of a channel, synchronization between the sub image processingapparatus 100 and the main image processing apparatus 200, adjustment ofscreen and volume, and recording reservation, etc.

Further, the first communication unit 160 may communicate with not onlythe main image processing apparatus 200 but also various connectableexternal apparatuses to transmit and receive the contents.

The first communication unit 160 may include a wired/wirelesscommunication module connectable with the outside locally or through anetwork based on a predetermined protocol, a USB port connectable with aportable storage medium such as a USB memory, etc.

The first controller 170 performs general control of the sub imageprocessing apparatus 100. In more detail, if a user touches the firstuser input unit 140 a, 140 b for input, the first controller 170determines contents corresponding to a touched area and controls thefirst communication unit 160 to transmit a control command about thedetermined contents to the main image processing apparatus 200.

Here, the control command may be given as a control command that makesthe same contents as displayed on the first display unit 130 a, 130 b bedisplayed on a second display unit 230 of the main image processingapparatus 200.

In more detail, the first controller 170 determines the contentscorresponding to the touched area where the touch input is performed,and, if sensing a location change of the touch input by a touch inputhaving directionality (e.g., flicking), transmits the control commandabout the contents to the main image processing apparatus 200 inresponse to the sensed location change. Here, the touched area mayinclude the view zone 22 where the contents are displayed.

Further, the transmitted control command may include a power-on commandfor the main image processing apparatus 200 in the state that the mainimage processing apparatus 200 has been turned off. For example, thefirst controller 170 transmits the power-on command to the main imageprocessing apparatus 200 when receiving information about the power-offstate of the main image processing apparatus 200 in the state that thetouch input is given for transmitting the contents displayed on thefirst display unit 130 a, 130 b to the main image processing apparatus200. Then, the first controller 170 controls the first communicationunit 160 to transmit the contents displayed on the first display unit130 a, 130 b to the main image processing apparatus 200, and transmitthe control command for displaying the transmitted contents to bedisplayed on the second display unit 230 of the main image processingapparatus 200.

Further, the first controller 170 may control the first communicationunit 160 to transmit a channel-shifting command for the determinedcontents.

The first controller 170 may be achieved by a relevant software program,and a processor such as a microcomputer, a central processing unit(CPU), or the like to load and execute this program.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the main image processingapparatus 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may include a second image receiving unit 210, a second imageprocessing unit 220, a second display unit 230, a second user input unit240, a second storage unit 250, a second communication unit 260, and asecond controller 270.

The second image receiving unit 210 receives a video signal from abroadcasting station or from an external device such as a DVD player orthe like. The second image receiving unit 210 includes an antenna, atuner, etc. to receive a broadcasting signal.

The second image processing unit 220 processes the video signal receivedby the second image receiving unit 210 into a signal having a formatdisplayable in the second display unit 230.

The second display unit 230 displays contents processed by the secondimage processing unit 220.

The second display unit 230 includes a display panel (not shown) wherethe contents are displayed, and a panel driver (not shown) to drive thevideo signal output from the second image processing unit 220 to bedisplayed on the display panel. In this embodiment, the display panel(not shown) may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel or a plasmadisplay panel (PDP) by way of example.

The second user input unit 240 may be achieved by a control panel, whichincludes at least one button and is provided in the main imageprocessing apparatus 200, as a user interface (UI) to receive a user'sinstruction. The control panel may include specific keys such as a menukey, an arrow key, etc. The second controller 270 determines that a usergives instructions when a button of the control panel is pressed.

Further, the second user input unit 240 may further include a graphicuser interface (GUI) presented by executing a predetermined applicationand displayed on the second display unit 230 as a touch area enabling auser's touch input.

The second storage unit 250 stores the contents received from theoutside. Here, an image stored in the second storage unit 250 mayinclude not only a broadcasting signal transmitted from the broadcastingstation and received by the second image receiving unit 210, but also animage received from the sub image processing apparatus 100 through thesecond communication unit 260 and contents such as a game application, astill image (photograph), and a moving picture of digital data receivedfrom various external sources such as a DVD player, an MP3 player, adigital camera, etc.

The second storage unit 250 may include an internal storage medium suchas a flash memory, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) anda hard disk drive (HDD), or a portable storage medium such as auniversal serial bus (USB) memory and a memory card (a memory stick, acompact flash card, and a multi-media card (MMC)).

The second communication unit 260 performs wire/wireless communicationwith the outside according to a predetermined communication protocol.Specifically, the second communication unit 260 receives a controlcommand from the sub image processing apparatus 100.

Further, the second communication unit may receive contents from the subimage processing apparatus 100. Here, the sub image processing apparatus100 may decode (or trans-code) the contents to have a predeterminedformat before transmitting the contents, and transmit it to the mainimage processing apparatus 200.

Here, the control command is a signal for giving various commands of auser such as power on/off of the main image processing apparatus 200,switch of a channel, synchronization between the sub image processingapparatus 100 and the main image processing apparatus 200, adjustment ofscreen and volume, and recording reservation, etc.

Further, the second communication unit 260 may communicate with not onlythe sub image processing apparatus 100 but also various connectableexternal apparatuses to transmit and receive the contents.

The second communication unit 260 may include a wired/wirelesscommunication module connectable with the outside locally or through anetwork based on a predetermined protocol, a USB port connectable with aportable storage medium such as a USB memory, etc.

The second controller 270 performs general control of the main imageprocessing apparatus 200. In more detail, if receiving a control commandfrom the sub image processing apparatus 100 through the secondcommunication unit 260, the second controller 270 controls the secondimage processing unit 220 to control the contents displayed on thesecond display unit 230 in response to the received control command.

Here, the received control command may be given as a control commandthat makes the same contents as displayed on the first display unit 130a, 130 b of the sub image processing apparatus 100 be displayed on thesecond display unit 230.

Further, the second controller 270 may turn on the main image processingapparatus 200 and control the second image processing unit 220 todisplay the contents corresponding to the relevant control command, whenreceiving the control command in the state that the main imageprocessing apparatus 200 has been turned off.

The second controller 270 may be achieved by a relevant softwareprogram, and a processor such as a microcomputer, a central processingunit (CPU), or the like to load and execute this program.

Below, exemplary embodiments of controlling the main image processingapparatus 200 through the sub image processing apparatus 100 will bedescribed in more detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate control of the main image processing apparatus200 as a user touches the sub image processing apparatus 100 for input.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sub image processing apparatus 100 may receive aflicking input 11 as the touch input while displaying predeterminedcontents. In this embodiment, the flicking input 11 means a touch inputbased on tap & hold where a finger or the like (e.g., a stylus) moves ina predetermined direction (e.g., toward the main image processingapparatus 200 or an upward direction of the touch screen) and by apredetermined distance or more in a predetermined direction while beingin contact with a touching area corresponding to the predeterminedcontents.

When receiving the flicking input 11 toward the main image processingapparatus 200 for the contents displayed on the first display unit 130a, 130 b, the first controller 170 transmits the control command to themain image processing apparatus 200 so that the same contents asdisplayed on the first display unit 130 a, 130 b can be displayed on thesecond display unit 230. To this end, the sub image processing apparatus100 may transmit information about relevant contents to the main imageprocessing apparatus 200. The main image processing apparatus 200displays the relevant contents on the second display unit 230 on thebasis of the information about the received contents.

If the main image processing apparatus 200 has been turned off as shownin FIG. 2, the first controller 170 receives information about thepower-off state of the main image processing apparatus 200 and transmitsa power-on command to the main image processing apparatus 200 on thebasis of the received information about the power-off state. The secondcontroller 270 turns on the main image processing apparatus 200 on thebasis of the received power-on command, and controls the second imageprocessing unit 220 so that the same contents as displayed on the firstdisplay unit 130 a, 130 b can be displayed on the second display unit230 on the basis of the control command corresponding to the flickinginput 11. In an exemplary embodiment, the main image processingapparatus 200 in a “power-off” state may not be entirely “off” in thatthe image processing apparatus 200 may be in a low power consumptionsetting so that it can receive and process a power-on command.

As shown in FIG. 3, if the contents displayed on the first display unit130 a, 130 b of the sub image processing apparatus 100 include channelinformation, the first controller 170 may control the firstcommunication unit 160 to transmit a channel-switching command to themain image processing apparatus 200. Thus, the main image processingapparatus 200 displays contents corresponding to a channel changed bythe received channel-switching command. Here, if the channel-switchingcommand is received while the main image processing apparatus 200 hasbeen turned off, the second controller 270 receives the power-on commandfrom the sub image processing apparatus 100 and turns on the main imageprocessing apparatus 200 in response to the power-on command, therebycontrolling the second image processing unit 220 to display contentscorresponding to the channel-switching command.

FIGS. 4A to 6B shows control screens displayed on the first display unit130 a, 130 b of the sub image processing apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4A, on an area of the first display unit 130 a, 130 bare displayed the menu navigation including the plurality of menu items21, and the view zone 22 where the thumbnail contents are displayedcorresponding to the menu item 21 selected in the menu navigation. Here,the area where the menu item 21 selected in the menu navigation isdisplayed is a target zone.

In FIG. 4A if a user selects not the currently displayed contents butanother menu item 23 through the touch input, the first display unit 130a, 130 b displays the thumbnail contents corresponding to the selectedmenu item 23 on the view zone 22 as shown in FIG. 4B.

As shown in FIG. 5A, if there is the flicking input 11 from a user whilethe view zone 22 displays predetermined contents, the sub imageprocessing apparatus 100 senses change in location due to the flickinginput 11 and transmits a control command about the contents to the mainimage processing apparatus 200. Thus, the main image processingapparatus 200 displays the contents corresponding to the flicking input11.

Here, the first display unit 130 a, 130 b may animate at least one ofthe menu item selected corresponding to the received touch input and thecontents displayed on the view zone 22 corresponding to the menu item.For example, the animation in this exemplary embodiment may include themenu item or the contents being displayed while moving in sequence.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the first controller 170 may control the firstdisplay unit 130 a, 130 b to display the control panel 24 forcontrolling the contents displayed on the main image processingapparatus 200. A user may give a control command for the contents to themain image processing apparatus 200 through the control panel 24.

If the main image processing apparatus 200 is turned off, the sub imageprocessing apparatus 100 receives the information about the power-offstate of the main image processing apparatus 200 and closes the controlpanel 24 as shown in FIG. 5C.

Meanwhile, the sub image processing apparatus 100 may display thecontents of the view zone 22 in a full screen display as shown in FIG.6A.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the sub image processing apparatus 100 may receivea circle input 12 as the touch input for the contents. Here, the circleinput 12 means a touch input based on rotation at a predetermined angleand in a predetermined direction. When sensing the circle input 12, thefirst controller 170 controls the first image processing unit 120 torotate the contents by the angle and direction of the received circleinput 12 as shown in FIG. 6B and display the rotated contents on thefirst display unit 130 a, 130 b. Further, the first controller 170controls the first communication unit 160 to transmit a control commandfor rotating the contents displayed on the main image processingapparatus 200 by the received angle and direction.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate control of the main image processingapparatus 200 on the basis of touch input according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7A, if the sub image processing apparatus 100 senses auser's flicking input that moves by a predetermined distance or more ina direction toward the main image processing apparatus 200, the mainimage processing apparatus 200 receives the control commandcorresponding to the flicking input and displays the contents changedaccording to the control command. In an exemplary embodiment, the user'sflicking input is toward a physical location of the main imageprocessing apparatus 200.

As shown in FIG. 7B, if the sub image processing apparatus 100 senses auser's circle input that rotates by a predetermined angle and apredetermined direction, the main image processing apparatus 200receives the control command corresponding to the circle input anddisplays the contents rotated by the sensed angle and direction.

In the foregoing exemplary embodiment, the touch input having thedirectionality is described with respect to the flicking input thecircle input, but not limited thereto.

In the main and sub image processing apparatuses 200 and 100 with thisconfigurations, the control methods thereof will be described below withreference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the control method of the sub image processingapparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 8, at operation S110 the sub image processingapparatus 100 receives a user's touch input through the first user inputunit 140 a, 140 b.

At operation S120, the first controller 170 determines which contentscorrespond to the touched area in response to the touch input.

As operation S130, the first controller 170 senses the change inlocation of the touch input received in the operation S110. Here, thesensed change in the location may include the flicking input in whichthe location of the touch input moves by a predetermined distance ormore in a predetermined direction, or the circle input in which thelocation of the touch input rotates at a predetermined angle and in apredetermined direction.

At operation S140, the first controller 170 controls the first imageprocessing unit 120 to change the contents determined in the operationS120 in response to the change of the location sensed in the operationS130, and display it on the first display unit 130 a, 130 b.

At operation S150, the first controller 170 controls the firstcommunication unit 160 to send the main image processing apparatus 200 acontrol command for the contents in response to the change in thelocation sensed in the operation S130. Here, the control command may begiven as a control command that makes the same contents as displayed inthe operation S140 be displayed on the main image processing apparatus200. Further, the control command in the operation S140 may include achannel-switching command, a power-on command for the main imageprocessing apparatus 200, etc.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the control method of the main image processingapparatus 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 9, at operation S210 the main image processingapparatus 200 receives the control command for the contents from the subimage processing apparatus 100.

Here, if the main image processing apparatus 200 has been turned off atoperation S220, the main image processing apparatus 200 is turned on inresponse to the received control command at operation S230.

At operation S240, the main image processing apparatus displays thecontents corresponding to the control command received in the operationS210. Here, the main image processing apparatus 200 displays thecontents changed (e.g., rotated) on the basis of the received controlcommand, or switched in the channel.

In the dual image processing system 10 according to the above describedexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the main imageprocessing apparatus 200 is controlled through the sub image processingapparatus 100 supporting the touch input, and thus it is more convenientfor a user to use the dual image processing system 10.

In the foregoing embodiments, the sub image processing apparatus 100 isused for transmitting the control command to the main image processingapparatus 200, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the main imageprocessing apparatus 200 may be used for controlling the sub imageprocessing apparatus 100, or the control command may be transmitted andreceived between the main and sub image processing apparatuses 200 and100.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus for allowing an externaldisplay apparatus to display a video image corresponding to a videocontent stored in the display apparatus comprising: a memory; a display;and a controller configured to: control the display to display aplurality of content thumbnails respectively associated with a pluralityof video contents stored in the memory, and in response to receiving afirst touch input for selecting one of the plurality of contentthumbnails displayed on the display: identify a video content associatedwith the selected one of the plurality of content thumbnails, from amongthe plurality of video contents stored in the memory; and control thedisplay to display a first screen comprising the identified videocontent; and in response to a second touch input on the display fortransmitting the identified video content to the external displayapparatus being received after the first screen comprising theidentified video content is displayed on the display: transmit, to theexternal display apparatus, data associated with the identified videocontent, so that the external display apparatus displays a video imagecorresponding to the identified video content; while the video image isdisplayed on the external display apparatus, stop displaying the firstscreen and control the display to display a second screen comprising aplurality of menu items for controlling the video image displayed on theexternal display apparatus, wherein the displayed first screen does notcomprise the plurality of menu items; and while the second screen isdisplayed on the display of the display apparatus, in response toinformation being received from the external display apparatus, controlthe display to re-display the first screen.
 2. The display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first touch input for selecting one ofthe plurality of content thumbnails comprises an initial touch and adrag input following the initial touch, and the display displays agraphic item corresponding to the selected one of the plurality ofcontent thumbnails, the graphic item being moved according to the draginput.
 3. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplayed graphic item is larger than others of the plurality of contentthumbnails that are not selected by the first touch input.
 4. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller isfurther configured to receive a touch input for the video contentcorresponding to the video image displayed in the external displayapparatus after transmitting the identified video content to theexternal display apparatus, the touch input for rotating in apredetermined direction the video content corresponding to the videoimage displayed in the external display apparatus.
 5. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the display to no longer display the plurality ofmenu items in response to receiving information about a power-off stateof the external display apparatus.
 6. The display apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit thedata associated with the identified video content to the externaldisplay apparatus if the drag input satisfies a predetermined condition,the predetermined condition being satisfied if the drag input is movedin an upward direction of the display of the display apparatus with atleast a predetermined distance.
 7. The display apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the drag input comprises a flicking input including acontinuous touch contact of a predetermined distance.
 8. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the display to stop the display of the pluralityof menu items based on information about a state of the external displayapparatus.
 9. The display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein theinformation about the state of the external display apparatuscorresponds to information indicating power-off of the external displayapparatus.
 10. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: receive the information from theexternal display apparatus, while the second screen is displayed on thedisplay of the display apparatus; and in response to the informationbeing received, control the display to display the identified videocontent, and no longer display the plurality of menu items.
 11. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the informationreceived from the external display apparatus is information about astate of the external display apparatus.
 12. A display apparatus forallowing an external display apparatus to display a video imagecorresponding to a video content stored in the display apparatuscomprising: a memory; a display; and a controller configured to: controlthe display to display a plurality of content thumbnails respectivelyassociated with a plurality of video contents stored in the memory, andin response to receiving a first touch input for selecting one of theplurality of content thumbnails displayed on the display: identify avideo content associated with the selected one of the plurality ofcontent thumbnails, from among the plurality of video contents stored inthe memory; and control the display to display a first screen comprisingthe identified video content; and based on a second touch input,following the first touch input, on the display for transmitting theidentified video content to the external display apparatus beingreceived: transmit, to the external display apparatus, data associatedwith the identified video content, so that the external displayapparatus displays a video image corresponding to the identified videocontent; while the video image is displayed on the external displayapparatus, control the display to display a second screen comprising aplurality of menu items for controlling the video image displayed on theexternal display apparatus, wherein the second screen is displayedinstead of the first screen while the video image is displayed on theexternal display apparatus, wherein the displayed first screen does notcomprise the plurality of menu items; while the second screen isdisplayed on the display of the display apparatus, receive informationfrom the external display apparatus; and in response to the informationbeing received from the external display apparatus, control the displayto display the first screen instead of the second screen.
 13. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller isfurther configured to control the display to no longer display theplurality of menu items in response to receiving information about apower-off state of the external display apparatus.
 14. The displayapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the display to stop the display of the pluralityof menu items based on information about a state of the external displayapparatus.
 15. The display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein theinformation about the state of the external display apparatuscorresponds to information indicating power-off of the external displayapparatus.
 16. The display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thecontroller is further configured to, in response to receiving apredefined signal from the external display apparatus, control thedisplay to stop display of the second screen comprising the plurality ofmenu items, by replacing the displayed second screen with a new screenwithout the plurality of menu items.
 17. A method of controlling adisplay apparatus for allowing an external display apparatus to displaya video image corresponding to a video content stored in the displayapparatus, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of contentthumbnails respectively associated with a plurality of video contentsstored in the display apparatus, in response to receiving a first touchinput for selecting one of the plurality of content thumbnails displayedon a display: identifying a video content associated with the selectedone of the plurality of content thumbnails, from among the plurality ofvideo contents stored in the display apparatus; and displaying a firstscreen comprising the identified video content; and in response to asecond touch input on the display for transmitting the identified videocontent to the external display apparatus being received after the firstscreen comprising the identified video content is displayed on thedisplay: transmitting, to the external display apparatus, dataassociated with the identified video content, so that the externaldisplay apparatus displays a video image corresponding to the identifiedvideo content; while the video image is displayed on the externaldisplay apparatus, stopping displaying the first screen and displaying asecond screen comprising a plurality of menu items for controlling thevideo image displayed on the external display apparatus, wherein thedisplayed first screen does not comprise the plurality of menu items;and while the second screen is displayed on the display of the displayapparatus, in response to information being received from the externaldisplay apparatus, controlling the display to re-display the firstscreen.
 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising nolonger displaying the plurality of menu items in response to receivinginformation about a power-off state of the external display apparatus.19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising stopping thedisplay of the plurality of menu items based on information about astate of the external display apparatus.
 20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the information about the state of the externaldisplay apparatus corresponds to information indicating power-off of theexternal display apparatus.
 21. The method according to claim 17,further comprising: receiving the information from the external displayapparatus, while the second screen is displayed on the display of thedisplay apparatus; and in response to the information being received,displaying the identified video content, and no longer display theplurality of menu items.
 22. The method according to claim 21, whereinthe information received from the external display apparatus isinformation about a state of the external display apparatus.